Pocket marking machine



Jan. 19, 1960 J. scHwARTz POCKET MARKING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 9. 1957 INVENTOR Loads d. SCMUI'Z ATTORNEYS Jan. 19, 1960 L. J. scHwATz 2,921,555

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POCKET MARKING MACHINE Filed July 9, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Y 7?@ SKL ATroRNEYs Jan. 19, 1960 .y J. scHwARrz POCKET MARKING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 9, 1957 'INVENTOR L0 wie J Schwaz'z :www

ATTORNEYSU United States Patent Olice 2,921,555 Patented Jan. 19, 1960 POCKET MARKING MACHINE Louis I. Schwartz, Slatington, Pa., assignor to Cro Country Clothes, Inc., a corporation Application July 9, 1957, Serial No. 670,795

4 Claims. (Cl. 118-308) This invention relates to a pattern marking machine and more particularly relates to a machine for marking a pattern outline of powder on a surface of an element such as a textile fabric.

In the manufacture of clothing it is desirable to have some means for transferring pattern outlines to the material being used. This has been previously been accomplished in a number of different ways, including the use of aerated powder blown onto the material in the desired configuration or marking. It is the purpose of the present invention to provide an improved device for marking material in this manner.

According to the invention, a pattern marking machine is provided having a reciprocable carriage movable toward and away from a support for material being marked, such as a textile fabric or garment. A duct for marking material, such as powder, is secured to the carriage and extends to a position adjacent the textile fabric or garment in the form of a desired pattern outline, such as that of a pocket. Apertures are formed in the surface of the duct adjacent the textile fabric and means is provided for conveying powder to the duct with an entraining gas, such as compressed air. A means is also provided for controlling the flow of powder through the duct to discharge powder from the apertures in the pattern outline at a predetermined point in the movement of the carriage and duct toward the textile fabric. In order to accommodate different thicknesses of textile fabric, an adjustment is provided for varying the point in the movement of the duct and carriage toward the fabric at which the powder is discharged from the apertures in the duct.

f In the application of a pattern outline of powder to a textile fabric, it is desirable that the duct from which the powder is discharged against the textile fabric uniformly contact the fabric around the entire pattern outline, so that a uniform marking will be achieved. Therefore, according to the invention, a marking machine is provided having a reciprocable carriage which moves into contact with the fabric to be marked and has guide means for assuring that the movement of the carriage and duct is rectilinear, so that the plane of the pattern outline portion of the duct will remain parallel to the plane of the fabric support and the fabric thereon.

In order that a proper amount of powder will be discharged on to the textile fabric, control means is provided for automatically opening and consecutively closing the ow of powder to the pattern duct in response to a single actuation of the control means by the movement of the carriage and duct toward the fabric support. Thus a measured charge of powder is applied to the textile fabric by movement of the carriage toward the fabric support, there being no necessity for a separate actuation to close off the flow of powder to the duct.

The foregoing results are achieved in a unitary pattern marking machine wherein the powder duct, powder reservoir, means for moving the powder duct into engagement with the textile fabric, valve means for controlling the ow of powder to the powder duct, and actuating means for initiating and ceasing the ow of powder to the powder duct at an adjustable point in the cycle of operation of the machine, are combined in a unitary, compact structure.

It is accordingly a primary object of the invention to provide a pattern marking machine for applying a pattern outline of marking material to an element such as a textile fabric or garment.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a pattern marking machine for quickly and etliciently applying a uniform pattern outline to a fabric.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a pattern marking machine having a pattern shape movable into and out of engagement with a fabric to be marked, and having means for discharging marking material through the duct at a predetermined point in the movement of the duct toward the fabric.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a pattern marking machine having a duct for applying marking material which is movable toward and away from a fabric support, and having means for discharging a charge of marking material through the duct at a predetermined point in the movement of the duct toward the support, with provision for adjusting or varying the point of discharge.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pattern marking machine having a support for a fabric to be marked, a duct having a shape of a pattern outline movable toward and away from the fabric support, and means for guiding the movement of the duct to make the movement rectilinear, so that the plane of the pattern outline of the duct is parallel to the plane of the fabric at the moment of discharge of marking material to achieve a uniform marking.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pattern marking machine of the foregoing type in a readily transportable and mountable form.

These and further objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon reference to the following specification and claims and appended drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation view of one side of a pattern marking machine according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevation view of the pattern markingmachine shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an elevation view of the other side of the pattern marking machine shown in Figure l;

Figure 4 is a top view of the pattern marking machine shown in Figure l;

Figure 5 is a rear elevation view of the pattern marking machine shown in Figure 1,v with the additional showing of the means for moving and guiding the marking carriage;

Figure 6 is a detailed view of one of the guide bars shown in Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a schematic view of the electric circuit and compressed air ow circuit in the pattern marking machine illustrated in Figure 1.

The pattern marking machine illustrated in the draw-` ings is generally designated by the numeral 10 and includes a support or table 12 having a flat horizontal upper surface 14. A textile fabric or garment 16 is spread smoothly on the upper surface 14 in position to have a pattern outline marking impressed thereon. The fabric 16 may be moved into position by hand or by automatic machinery, not illustrated.

A carriage base 20 is mounted on the upper surface 14 of the support 12 and has a circular vertical bore 22 formed therein registering with an aperture 18 in support 12. A mounting extension 24 is formed at the lower end of the carriage base 20 and extends laterally therefrom. The carriage base is fastened to the table 12 by an L-shaped bracket 26 which is bolted to the extension 24 by bolts 28 and to the table by bolts 29.

A'verticalcarriage shaft 38 extends upwardly through the aperture 18 in the support or table 12 into the b ore 22 in the carriage base 20. This shaft extends out of the top of the carriage base and has a washer 34, disc 36"'and'coil-spring 52 mounte'dthereon for f-apurpose presently to be described. ln order to further .Iguide the 'carriage AJand vprevent Lits Aswinging vabout carriage shaft v38, thefcarriage lbase V520 is provided vwith an vextension `32 extending up the side of the carriage base opposite from the carriage base mounting'extension 24. AThis extension has a bore 441therein whichfmates with an aperture-46 in the support orltable 12. A vertical guide rod 48- extendsthrough this bore Iand aperture and out ofthe top of the ycarriage base-'20.

The carriageshaft 38 .carries Latlitsuppery end a carriage vvbracket 540 Vwhich receives'tl'xe upper end of the guide vrrod48. vfIheunderside 50 of the bracket 40 rests upon-and issupported bythe coil spring `52.

A cantilever arm 54 is secured tocarriage'bracket r40, as by being east integrallytherewith, and extends horizontally therefrom. 'The cantilever arm has as intermediate mountingextension S6 formed adjacent the outer end'thereof and-terrninates in an aperturedfring '58.

A'powder reservoir generally designated 60 is secured to' the'cantileverfarm 54 and includes a cast iron lid 62 having an upwardly extending lug 64 `secured to thel intermediate mounting extension 56 by means of a bolt 6'6. A'powder jar 68, preferably of unbreakable glass, issecuIed within'iron'lid 62, as by screw threads, and is adapted'to contain powderedrnarking material, such as starch or chalk.

ln order to deliver compressed air to powder reservoir k60, thelid62' is provided with an L-shaped inlet 70 attached to a tube 72 extending downwardly to a point adjacent the 'bottom of jar 68'. Por the .passage of a mixturey of air and powder from the reservoir 60, an L- shaped outlet 74 is-mounted'in lid 62. The outlet is connected to a. conduit, generally designated by numeral 76'and'including a'connecting fitting 78an elbow 80, a 'fitting' 82, a straight pipe section84 extending through the aperture in end ring 58, and an elbow 86 with its vertical portion connected to a tting 88.

Securedfto'the lower end of fitting 88 is a powder duct generally designated by the numeral'90 which includes a hollow vertical portion 92, aVT-f1tting 94, two downwardly curved connectingltubes 96, two T fittings `9S,anda pattern outline conduit 100 lying in a horizontal flat plane. Thisvoutline conduit has the shape of the desired pattern outline, in this case that of a pocket. Spaced apertures 102 are formed in the lolwer surface ofpattern conduit i1-00 for the passage of powder into-contact with the textile fabric 16 to imprint the pockety outline on the fabric.

In order to supply compressed air to powder reservoir 60, a source of compressedfair104 is provided, as seen in Figures 4 and 7 which supplies airthrough hose 106 to normally-closed, electrically-openable valve 108. The vvalve isffof a conventional type having an actuating solenoid 112, inlet 110 and outlet 114. The valve isspring biased to a closed position andy is opened upon energizationof solenoid`112. The valve outlet 114 is connected to .a hose Vy11'6- connectedtothepowder reservoir inlet y7). The valve 108-is secured to the carriage base 20.by anf L-shaped bracket 118'and bolts 120 and 122.

Power-is supplied to solenoid `112"fron1 a source y124 overcable i126. The circuit is controlled by a microswitch 130 including conventional-timing means, which Vmicroswitch-is secured-tobracket 118 and has van operating -button 132 extending upwardlytherefrorn. The microswitch 130'is` of a conventional construction wherein ltheoperatingbutton vis -normally spring-pressed upwardly'to-an open circuitposition and closes and opens the circuit upon a -single depression of the operating fbutton.

In order to close the electrical circuit to solenoid 112, actuating means is mounted on the carriage 42 .and includes a vertical plate 134 secured by a lbolt 136 to bracket 4Q. The plate has attached thereto a horizontal extension 138, a diagonal extension and a horizontal mounting plate 142 having a screw-threaded aperture therein. An actuator set screw or bolt 144 is screwthreaded inv position in plate 1'42 and is vheld in the desired position by lock nuts 146 and 148. In order to protect the entire carriage 42,'a cover 150 may be-provided as shown in dotted lines in the drawings.

The carriage 42 is moved downwardly by an electromagnetic arrangement shown in Figure 5. Referring to that figure, a guide rod 1552 parallel-to and spaced from carriage shaft 38 depends from the lower surface of table 12, to which it is attached by flange .154. A lower horizontal guide barV 158 is adjustably secured to vertical `guide rod 152 by a set screw "160 and is apertured at '162 to slidably receive carriage shaft 38. An electrical solenoid 164 is rigidly secured to lower guide bar 158 and is suppliedwith electrical current through 1eads'166 and a suitable source of electrical power. The electrical circuit is controlled'by a switch '170 normallyspringpressed 'to open circuit position and adapted'for closure by depression of foot treadle 172.

An upper guide bar 174, shown'n detail in'Figure 6, is adjustably mounted on carriage shaft 38 by'setscrews 176 and has an aperture 178 formedtherein slidably receiving vertical guide rod '152. A tension coil Vspring 180 extendsbetween upper guide bar 174 and thelower surface oiftable 12' to which it is secured by an upper bolt '182. An elongated lower bolt 184 secures the' spring to the guide bar 174 and extends beneath the guidebar 174. A nut 186 threaded on'lowerV bolt '184 irmly'positions the bolt on'the upper'guide bar174. An armature 190'is suspended withinthe solenoid 164 and has a connecting extension 192 formed on the upper surface thereofinto-which the lower bolt 184 is threaded. A'lock nut 194 on bolt 184 insures a firrn positioning ofthe armature.

When the pattern marking machine is in a restposition as illustrated in Figure 5, the tension spring 180 and the compression 'spring 52 hold the carriage'42 in its uppermost position,the armature 190 being partially outside of the solenoid 164.

The operation of the illustrated ypattern marking machine will now be described. A textile fabric, Suchas a garment l16,'is spread on the upper surface of table 12 beneath theY pattern duct 100 in a position so that the duct will contact' the garment at the clesiredpositionY formarking. Thereafter, the operatordepresses foot treadle 172 supplying electrical current'to solenoid 164. The arma ture'190is thus magnetically drawn downwardly causing downward movement of upper guide bar "174, carriage Shaft 38 and the entire carriage 42. Thus the tension spring '180, is extended under a tensile stress andthe compression spring 52 compressed under a compressive stress.

As the shaft 38 moves downwardly, it will be seenthat theparallel guide` bars 158 and 174, sliding with respect to shaft33 and guide ro'd 15A-respectively, cooperate to insure thatthe vertical movement of shaft '38 and `carriage Thus, when the Apattern duct 10i) moves downwardlyto a position adjacent thegarment '16, its

Iplane isp/parallel to the garment and it contacts the/ gar- `ment with uniform pressure around its periphery. As a result, Va uniform marking of 'the garment is `achieved without blurring any portions of the pattern outline.

When the `carriage 42 reaches a position in its downward. movement where-the pattern duct Y16% is adiacent ,the.fabric.16, the actuator set-screw-144 contacts operating button 132A of microswitch y1150. Thereafter, the electricalcircuit to solenoid V112 is "automatically closed to open valve'108'for a predetermined interval of time, permitting the charge'ofcompressedair to pass throughthe "valve from Acompressed airsource 104throu'gh'hose 116 to reservoir inlet 70. The charge of compressed air passes downwardly through tube 72 into jar 68 and entrains therein a portion of chalk or starch powder. The mixed charge of powder and air passes outwardly through outlet 74, hollow conduit 76 to powder duct 90 and pattern duct portion 100, where it leaves via apertures 102 to apply a uniform pattern outline of a pocket to the fabric 16. Thereafter, microswitch 130 effects an automatic opening of the electrical circuit to solenoid 112 to close valve 108 after the measured charge of compressed air has passed through the valve. It will be seen that in order to accommodate different thicknesses of fabric or garment 16, .the point in the downward movement of the carriage 42 at which the charge of powder is discharged from the powder ducts 102 may be adjusted or varied by moving the set screw 144 upwardly or downwardly with respect to the mounting plate 142.

After the foregoing application of a pattern outline to the garment 16, the operator releases the pressure on treadle 172, opening the electrical circuit to solenoid 164. The armature 190 is thus released from magnetic attraction and the compression spring S2 and the tension spring 180 cooperate to raise the carriage 42 to its uppermost position. The fabric 16 may then be moved to a position where another portion of it may be marked or another garment may be placed in position to be marked.

Thus it is seen that the invention provides a pattern marking machine wherein the means for applying marking powder to a fabric, powder reservoir, means for irnpelling the powder to a discharge point, and means for actuating the discharge of powder onto a fabric are combined in a unitary device. Further, it is seen that the invention provides a pattern marking machine having a movable carriage whose point of powder discharge may be adjusted to accommodate various thicknesses of fabric.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms m'thout departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by the United States Letters Patent is:

l. A marking machine for applying a pattern outline of powdered material to the surface of an element, said machine comprising a base, a marking carriage mounted for reciprocation toward and away from said base, a duct secured to said carriage and extending away from said carriage, the portion of said duct farthest from said carriage having a plurality of apertures positioned in the shape of a pattern outline, electrical solenoid drive means connected directly to said carriage for reciprocating said carriage toward and away from said base, a powder reservoir mounted on said carriage, and having an outlet and an inlet, a hollow conduit extending from said reservoir outlet to said duct, means for delivering compressed gas to said reservoir inlet, a valve controlling said gas delivering means and normally preventing said gas delivery, means for opening said valve to permit said gas delivery, means for actuating said valve opening means, said actuating means being mounted on said carriage to actuate said valve opening means at a predetermined point in the movement of said carriage toward said base.

2. A marking machine as set forth in claim 1 including means for consecutively opening and closing said valve in response to a single actuation by said actuating means occurring during the downward movement of said carriage.

3. A marking machine for applying a pattern outline of marking material to a surface of an element, said machine comprising a support for an element to be marked, said support having an aperture extending therethrough, a marking carriage mounted above said support and having a supporting shaft extending through said aperture for reciprocation within said aperture, a duct for marking material secured to said carriage and extending downwardly therefrom, the lower portion of said duct having a plurality of spaced apertures in the shape of a pattern outline in a plane substantially parallel to the upper surface of said support, the lower surface of said pattern portion of said duct being apertured in the shape of said pattern outline, means for supplying marking material to said duct, `said vertical carriage shaft extending beneath said support, a vertical guide rod fxedly mounted beneath said support and extending parallel to said vertical carriage shaft, a first guide bar having one end fixed to said vertical carriage shaft, the other end of said first guide bar having an aperture formed therein through which said vertical guide rod slidably extends, a second guide bar having one end fixed to said vertical guide rod, the other end of said second guide bar having an aperture formed therein through which said vertical carriage shaft extends, and electromagnetic drive means supported by said guide rod and said shaft and operatively connected to said shaft for vertically reciprocating said vertical carriage shaft and carriage.

4. A marking machine for applying a pattern outline of powder to a textile fabric, said machine com.- prising a horizontal support for a textile fabric, a base secured to said support, said base and said support having vertical apertures extending therethrough in registry with each other, a carriage mounted above said base and having a vertical shaft extending downwardly through said apertures for vertical reciprocation in said apertures, a carriage bracket secured to the upper end of said vertical shaft, said bracket forming a shoulder surrounding said shaft, a coil spring surrounding said vertical shaft and extending between said base and said shoulder to urge saidcarriage upwardly, a cantilever arm secured to said carriage bracket and extending laterally over said fabric support, a duct for powder secured to the outer end of said cantilever arm and extending downwardly therefrom, the lower portion of said duct having a horizontal shape of a pattern outline, said pattern portion of said duct having spaced holes formed in its lower surface, a powder reservoir secured to said cantilever arm between vsaid powder duct and said carriage bracket, a powder outlet formed in said reservoir, a hollow conduit extending from said powder outlet to said powder duct, a compressed air inlet formed in said reservoir, a source of compressed air, a hollow connection extending from said air source to said reservoir inlet, a normally-closed electrically-openable valve in said connection, an electrical circuit to said valve connected to a source of electrical power, a switch in said electrical circuit mounted adjacent said machine base and having a movable operating button extending outwardly therefrom, a switch actuator mounted on said carriage and extending adjacent said switch button to contact said button when said carriage is moved downwardly, a solenoid armature secured to the lower portion of said vertical shaft, a solenoid coil surrounding said armature and fixedly mounted with respect to said fabric support, an electrical circuit for energizing said solenoid coil to draw said carriage downwardly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,299,659 Smith Oct. 20, 1942 2,518,038 MalhiOt Allg. 8, 1950 2,571,976 Ward Oct. 16, 1951 2,619,031 Rothenborg Nov. 25, 1952 2,642,033 Miller June 16, 1953 2,701,542 Tench Feb. 8, 1955 

